The games we play

One of the things we've been doing to get away from the glowing rectangles (besides hiking), is playing lots of games. We've fallen in love with the store Gamescape North; I have over-ridden my knee-jerk purchases at Amazon to head to the store. We love the advice from the helpful, courteous staff as well as the collection of stuff.

So here are some of our favorites:

1) Hive - a board-less checker/chess-style game with bugs. A great 2-player to take with you anywhere: fun, quick and strategic.

2) Small World - a geeky "civilization" board game where you actually play several "fantasy races" but the game lasts only 10 turns. This game is fun because you actually have to decide when to put your present group into decline to adopt a new one and it all happens pretty quickly. Dice and other random elements rarely play a role in victory, but there are enough random elements to make each game incredibly unique.

3) Runebound - OK, this one is true geek: an extensive fantasy adventure board game. It is involved and expandable, so it can be a bit time consuming. However, we really dig the fact that the game revolves around going after a common goal, rather than each other. (We, especially Sam, have a tough time attacking or creating obstacles against each other.)

4) Settlers of Catan - This is a very popular game designed in Germany (like most great board games). Basically, you are on a search for resources in order to build and therefore acquire more resources ... very much the story of civilization over the past several centuries. While strategic, you are also much under the power of the dice.

One of the frustrating things we've noticed is how much we are playing now that it is summer. Why? Because Sam doesn't have homework. It is really stupid how much a family suffers in social interaction and strategy skills developed in game play because he has homework which is basically an extension of the rote skills he is practicing in school.

Anyway, I hope you are playing. Let us know if you want to play.